Insole-holding device



March 11, 1930. v BRESNAHAQ 1,749,900

INSOLE HOLDING DEVICE Filed July 19, 1928 Fig. 1.

Patented Mar. 11, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 MAURICE VINCENT BRESNAI-IAN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED jj SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY INSOLE-HOLDING DEVICE This invention relates to work positioning means for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes and is illustrated as embodied in a last having means for attaching an insole.

It has been the general practice heretofore in the manufacture of welt and other types of shoes to fasten the insole to its last by tacks, driven usually at the toe and heel ends and in the shank. There are, however, well known objections to the use of such tacks. It sometimes happens, for example, that a tack is left in the insole until the shoe is finished, and such a tack not only may cause injury to the wearer of the shoe but it is difiicult to remove and its removal may result in damage to the shoe. Since, moreover, the tacks are driven in about the same locations in the manufacture of difierent shoes on the same last, the wood of the last may finally become so disintegrated that the tacks no longer hold effectively. Furthermore, with thecprevailing practice, the accuracy with which the insole is positioned on the last depends entirely upon the operators care and judgment.

In view of the foregoing, the present invention, in one important aspect, provides a last having novel means for positioning and holding insoles accurately in predetermined relation to the last bottom without the use of tacks. The construction illustrated comprises a last having a spring-metal clamping member permanently attached at one of its ends to the last bottom and extending forwardly along the last bottom. This member is arranged to project through a hole in the insole and to hold the insole tightly to the last by pressure of the spring-metal member against the bottom surface of the insole.

Preferably, and as illustrated, a plurality of such clamping members are provided in convenient locations on the last bottom. In the use of the illustrated construction, when the last is pulled backwardly out of the shoe the forwardly extending spring members are pulled back through the holes in the insole, releasing the last without diificulty.

These and other features of the invention comprising certain combinations and arrangements of parts will be apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows the bottom face of a last embodying the invention; p Fig. 2 shows an insole attached to the lastof Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 2.

The illustrated last 10 is intended for Mc- Kay shoe making and has the ordinary iron bottom 12. Apertures 14, 14 are formed in the iron bottom 12 to permit the attachment of tongue-shaped spring insole retaining members 16, 16 to the wooden body of the last, by screws 18 passing through eyes in the rear ends of the retaining members. Preferably, depressions 20 are formed in the last body in whichv to countersink the screw heads. From their points of attachment, the retaining members 16 have preferably a slight S shape, bending outwardly at 22 away from the last bottom to a distance approximately equal to the thickness of an insole, then toward the bottom at 24, and finally away from it again at 26, as best shown in Fig. 3.

An insole 28 to be attached to the last 10 is slotted or punched at locations corresponding to the first outward bends of the retaining members 16. In the attachment of the insole the outwardly bent terminal ends of the retaining members are inserted in the holes in the insole which is then drawn backwardly into position on the last bottom, being held in place by the resilient pressure of the retaining members, as shown in Fig. 3.

WVhen the shoe is finished to the point where the last is to be removed, the last is easily pulled backwardly out of the shoe, the retaining members 16 slipping backwardly through the holes in the insole, and releasing the last.

In the illustrated last two retaining members 16, 16 are arranged along the longitudinal medium line of the last bottom, one at the toe and the other in the shank portion, 0

but any convenient number, in any convenient location, may be used.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A last having a resilient insole holding member attached by its rear end to the bottom of the last, and extending forwardly 1 along the last bottom. V 2. A last having a resilient insole holding m ber at ached by its'rear. nd. o he hottom Qfl the. last, and-'- extending forwardly along the last bottom in contact therewith.

3. A last having a plurality of resilient insole holding members attached by theirrear ends to the bottom of the last, and extending forwardly along the last bottom in contact therewith, one of said members being located at the toe and another of said members being located at the shank, and all of said Inembe.rs, being locat d. e. longie tudinal central line of the lastbottom.

4 A last having an insoleholding member attached to its bottom, Said, member consisting of a resilient tongue attached at its rear end to the last and bent first away and then toward the. last whereby it; may project through a previously prepared hole in anilisole and press; the insole, against the last.

5,; A last haying a depression in its bottom surface and a resilient insole holding memher with, its rear end attached to, the last in the depression and extending from its point of attachment first outwardly from the last bottom to a distance approximately equal to. the thickness of an insole, then inwardly toward the last. bottom, to enable it to hold resfilently an insole against the last bottom, and then outwardly again at; its end to facilitate, its nsertion, through a holein the insole. V

In testimony whereof I have, signed my name to this specification. MAURICE VINCEN T BRESNAHANK 

